Crime Scene Management: Challenges Faced

Crime Scene Management: Challenges Faced Crime scene management has evolved to meet the challenges of todays crime scene experts. There have been a lot of changes over the past 75 years, especially in the type of evidence which can now be recovered and the investigative tools used to process it. The employment of qualified Scientific Support Managers take charge of all experts involved at a scene and this ensures evidence is recovered In-tact and un-compromised. The following paper shows how modern scene management methods are used to investigate the Ruxton case today. The Initial Call A hill walker in the south of Scotland, spots an arm reaching up out of the river. She immediately calls 999 and Police officers are dispatched to her location. Actions of the First Officers at the Scene (FAO) Quick preservation is the key to success in recovering evidence from any scene. Crime scenes are easily compromised and evidence can be destroyed by walking over or moving any items before experts have cleared the area. Locards Principle In 1921 Locards Principle was founded and it simply states every contact leaves a trace there is always evidence at a scene and failure to find evidence may be due to Poor preservation and search techniques. The officers contact their supervisor as to what they found and requested a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) to attend the location. FOAs now cordoned off the scene and identify safe parking for technical bureau vehicles. A logbook is opened to record all personnel who attend the scene. Major Crime Scene Management Towards the end of the 1980s it was decided new management and training techniques were required and the roll of Crime Scene Manager was developed. The establishment of the National Training Centre provide crime scene investigators with higher standards of training. (As per G. Keeling and A. Scott Crime scene management workbook, P4) Proper management of staff at major crime scenes was found to be paramount if an investigation is to be successful. All major crime scenes present complex issues which may lead to misunderstandings and conflicts between the various forensic teams. A co-ordinated approach to the investigation is essential and must be agreed by all the various experts if the investigation is to be handled properly. (As per G. Keeling and A. Scott Crime scene management workbook, P14) The management structure includes: Senior Investigation Officer (SIO) Scientific Support Co-ordinator (SSC) Crime Scene Co-ordinator (CSC) Crime Scene Manager (CSM) Exhibits Officer In major crime scenes the SIO will seek the assistance of a Senior Forensic Scientist to co-ordinate with the forensic laboratory. Senior Investigation Officer The Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) is the principle decision maker in the investigation and will control the enquiry with the management team. (see fig 2) Scientific Support Co-ordinator This Scientific Support Co-ordinator manages and co-ordinates the various scientific support teams (outlined later) and advises the SIO on the scientific support strategy. The Crime Scene Co-ordinator The CSC advises the SIO on contamination issues. If it becomes obvious this is not the primary crime scene then the CSC will coordinate personnel at all the various scenes. The Crime Scene Manager The CSM is an experienced CSI who will take control of the scene and is responsible for all matters relating to its examination. The CSM is the liaison between the SIO and CSIs.(See fig 3) (As per G. Keeling and A. Scott Crime scene management workbook, P14) Exhibits Officer This detective is in charge of keeping all evidence secure. The exhibits officer records, catalogues and assigns exhibit numbers to each piece of evidence i.e. LCH1. The incident Room Information is controlled and stored in the incident room using a computer system first introduced in the UK in 1986 known as HOLMES (Home Office Large Major Enquiry System). The Incident room provides the SIO with accurate up to date information on the examination of evidence. The Incident room also provides a two way information system for detectives during the investigation. Police and staff at the scene include Personnel under the control of The Scientific Support Co-ordinator include: The Crime Scene Investigator is responsible for persevering and collecting evidence at the scene. The Photographer provides a full pictorial record of the scene and the Post Mortem and produces albums for trial. The Surveyor provides detail maps and plans of the scene. The Fingerprint Lab tech is used to recover prints at a scene. The Fingerprint expert is used to examine prints at a scene and aid in eliminating any persons who have cause to be a scene. Experts provided by the Forensic Science Service (FSS) include: Entomologists Anthropologists Forensic Psychologists Forensic Archaeologists Chemist Biologist Dynamic Risk Assessment Under the Health Safety at work Act 1974 The Crime Scene Manager completes a Dynamic Risk Assessment for every scene which addresses: Water born hazards (drowning, weils disease) Biological issues (HIV/AIDS/HEP AB) Personal injury Items infested with parasites Unsafe areas Welfare issues which must be addressed:- Meal breaks WC facilities, Weather conditions Critical Stress Debriefing Personnel working at this scene were presented with a horrendous sight of decomposed and butchered body parts strewn across the area. All staff must be offered the opportunity to undertake Critical Stress Debriefing. Contamination Matrix The Crime Scene manager compiles a Contamination Matrix which ensures no person or vehicle attends more than one scene. This will eliminate any possibility of cross contamination. The Forensic strategy The SIO needs the following questions to be answered:- Are the parts human Could the remains be animals? Who is the deceased The victim(s) needs to be identified as soon as possible. Age and sex of the victim(s) Age and gender of the victim will aid in the identification process. Time and date of death The pathologist will be able to determine a rough time of death and an entomologist may be able to produce an estimated date of death. Cause of death The pathologists will give an indication of how the victim(s) died. Can a suspect be eliminated There is no point spending money investigating an innocent person. Can evidence prove this person is or is not a suspect? Is this linked to another crime If this crime is linked to another crime, evidence and investigations from the other crime scenes may be able to direct investigators to a suspect. (As per G. Keeling and A. Scott Crime Scene Management workbook, P20) Using the forensic strategy it is important to keep an open mind and read the scene based on knowledge and experience as the facts fall into place, testing each hypothesis as it develops. (As per P. White From Crime Scene to Court P47) A.B.C Model Assume nothing Believe no one Check everything (See Fig 4) Agreeing and delivering a forensic strategy Once a forensic strategy has been decided the SIO and CSM must before the investigation can continue. The SIO records the agreed strategy in the investigation policy book and the CSM records the strategy in the scene management log. Recording the forensic strategy To avoid any misunderstanding between the SIO and CSM the scene log is updated with actions identified in the forensic strategy. The log is also updated with the outcomes from briefings, meetings and directions to the CSIs. Delivering the forensic Strategy The CSM is responsible for Planning, coordinating and managing the search and recovery of evidence. The CSM details tasks and activities from the strategy to the forensic teams. (As per G. Keeling and A. Scott Crime Scene Management workbook, P21) Managing Police and Forensic experts at the scene Processing a crime scene involves a team of experts who can deal with any piece of evidence uncovered during an investigation. These experts need to be managed and coordination to avoid any overlaps during their examinations. (As per G. Keeling and A. Scott Crime Scene Management workbook, P21) Major Crime Scene vehicles The attendance of a Major Crime Scene Vehicle is requested. (See fig 6). This vehicle will act as a command post to allow briefings to be held on site. Crime scene vehicles also attend which contain equipment such as lighting, tarpaulin, plastic tape and any non-routine equipment needed at an external crime scene. (As per P. White From Crime Scene to Court P46) Immediate Search The CSM contacts Police Search Advisors (POLSA) who are trained in systematic searching techniques for large areas. A fingertip search of the area is conducted to locate evidence. The CSIs will recover and transfer the evidence to the Exhibits Officer to hold until their value to the investigation is ascertained. (As per P. White From Crime Scene to Court P49) Recovery of Evidence The CSM produces an Evidence Recovery Plan which outlines the steps required before any piece of evidence is recovered. Sequencing of examination The Sequencing of Examinations must always be done in such a way that the recovery process does not destroy other evidence. Evidence should be processed in this order:- Pictorial record and sketches of the position of the item Recovery of fragile evidence first i.e. DNA, fibres Fingerprinting (As per G. Keeling and A. Scott Crime Scene Management workbook, P22) The Planning Cycle NEW INFORMATION New information can be obtained from any source at any time STOP stop and obtain a briefing ASSESS Using the CSMs initial questions. What do I know? Now formulate a plan, immediate action required PLAN What specialists do I require? Is my Evidence Recovery Plan in place. REVIEW review the actions put in place (See fig 5) Cordons The CSM will confirm the positions of the cordons are. The CSM will identify the position of a second outer cordon. Once the inner cordon is in place, only personnel wearing PPE will be allowed pass. Crime Scene Surveillance All personnel will be aware a suspect may be present or revisit the scene during the investigation asking questions. It is best practice that details are recorded of any person enquiring about the scene or vehicles driving around the area. (As per G. Keeling and A. Scott Crime Scene Management workbook, P11) Common Approach Path (CAP) A common approach path is established to allow access to the scene. This is completed by identifying a route to the scene which would not likely to have been used by the suspect. This route is subjected to a fingertip search and a full video and photographic record is completed. Once this route is established the CSM, SIO, Pathologist and Forensic Scientist will approach the main area where the biggest concentration of the body parts are located. Body parts Body parts are placed in new plastic body bags and labelled appropriately. The body parts are accompanied back to the morgue by the Crime Scene Manager and a Police Officer. The Officer will remain with the bodies for the duration until the Post Mortem is completed. Under Water Search Unit An Under Water Search Unit is bought in and will search the river to recover body parts and the instruments used in the possible murder and dissection of the bodies. The Post Mortem The Pathologist will systematically examine the body to establish cause and time of death. An attempt to identify the weapon and instrument used to dissect the bodies will be made. A full video and photographic record including sketches are made for each step. The Pathologist will take various samples, blood, hair (head body), DNA and swabs from all body orifices and send to the lab for processing. The Anthropologist An Anthropologist will aid in the identification and reassembly of skeletonised remains of the victims. (see fig 8) Examination of the skulls Examination of the skulls can give an estimated age and gender of the victims. It is estimated the shorter body is aged between 20 and 30 years and female. The taller of the two bodies was approximately between 30 and 40 years of age, also female. The Entomologist Examining maggots recovered from the scene the Entomologist constructs a timeline using the insects life cycles to estimate the date of death. This date coincides with the date on the newspaper which some of the body parts were wrapped in. Cause of death The taller woman had damaged of the hyoid bone consistent with strangulation. Five stab wounds to the chest were found. The smaller womans skull was fractured and her tongue shows signs of swelling consistent with asphyxia. When the PM is complete the Senior Investigation Officer asks the Pathologist for a cause of death. Results of the Post Mortem The post mortem has proven there are two bodies, both female, one in her twenties and the other in her thirties. The bodies were dismembered using a knife at the joints. The Pathologists concluded the bodies were mutilated to prevent identification and possibility by somebody with medical training. Both victims died a violent death. After the PM the coroner is informed and takes responsibility for the bodies until they are released for burial. . Finger and palm prints Automatic Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) developed in the late 80s is now widely used in Police forces all over the world. Palm and fingerprints of the victims are taken and entered onto the AFIS system for possible identification or comparison later. Tool-marks Tool marks on the bones are casted and confirmed they were made by a knife. Facial Reconstruction 2D facial reconstruction was first used in Texas during the 1980s (As per Reichs and Craig. Facial Approximation: procedures and pitfalls) and allows the forensic artists to reconstruct faces on the skulls. 3D facial re-construction can also be done by using clay or 3D computer software using known profiles for race, age, and gender. The reconstructed face is photographed or printed and submitted to the incident room. (See fig 11) Further examination of the scene During the Post Mortem, searching the scene and the river continued and the cordons reviewed. Potential evidence such as footprints, drag marks, clothing snags and blood is recovered and examined for intelligence. Final inventory Once the scene has been fully examined, a final inventory is compiled of whats left and not removed. This will insure whatever is left is not part of the investigation. Although this is normally completed on an inside scene there is merit for carrying out this process for every scene. De-commissioning the scene Before the scene is released it is good practice for an independent Crime Scene Manager to walk the scene to establish if there are any items of interest to the investigation overlooked. The SIO and CSM walk the entire scene and on completion the scene is released. Evidence recovered at the scene Each piece of evidence should be photographed in its location; sketches drawn of its exact location and when collected, packaged in its own separate container, labelled and exhibit numbers assigned. Evidence collected at the scene included: Various body parts Two skulls Maggots Newspaper A patched blouse Tyre tracks Footprints Fingerprints Control samples Tyre marks and footprints Casts of Foot prints and tyre tracks are made and recovered. Intelligence on the class characteristics of the tyre marks can establish a type of tyre present at the scene. The tyre marks can also be compared on the national tyre tread database. If a vehicle is later identified the individual characteristics of the tyre can be compared with the recovered casts. Foot prints recovered can be compared on the national shoe database and be matched to a suspects shoe. The Newspaper The newspaper is examined for fingerprints, handwriting, hairs, fibres, blood and DNA. This paper is the Sunday Graphic which displays the date and part of a headline which refers to a festival in Morecambe near Lancaster. Intelligence from the newspaper points the investigation team to believe the murders may have taken place in the Morecambe area and the bodies driven up to Scotland on or soon after the date on the newspaper. (Wilson Wilson 2003) Missing Persons Reports The investigating team now look at missing persons reports for women in their mid twenties and late thirties from around the Morecambe and Lancaster areas. Mary Jane Rogerson (see fig 10) was reported missing by her stepmother. She had been employed by a Doctor Ruxton, who lived in Lancaster. 34 year old Isabella Ruxton, Dr Ruxtons wife (see fig 9) was also reported missing by friends. These women are good matches to the images the forensic artists generated. The patched blouse The blouse is tested for the presence of hair, fibres and traces of DNA. Any recovered particulates are compared to the victim and possible suspects. A photo of the blouse was shown to Jessie Rogerson and identified as been owned by Mary Jane. Incident room Detectives now turn their attentions to Dr. Ruxton. (See fig 7) Crime Scene 2 (Dr. Ruxtons House) The First Officer on scene preserved the scene using barrier tape to restrict entry to the building. The suspects car and the area surrounding the vehicle is cordon off. The scene log book is started and only persons wearing full PPE can enter the building. The Scientific Support Officer reviews the cordons and the personnel required at the building. The SSO will take into account if there is evidence external to the building. The Contamination Matrix and Dynamic Risk Assessments are completed before any persons enter the building. The SSO marks out the common access to the building. Method of entry to the building will be determined by the Crime Scene Manager. Once the Evidence Recovery Plan is complete, the building is searched. Blood was found on the stairs and in the bathroom. Blood, DNA and other material was discovered in the bathtub. This evidence was recovered and sent to the lab for examination. This blood and DNA will be compared to DNA on file from the victims and on the national DNA database. Evidence recovered from the building included:- Fingerprints Blood Skin and Bone Fragments Hair and fibres Clothing from the victim and suspect The suspects shoes Knifes Dr Ruxtons Doctors Bag Medicines and drugs including their containers Various control samples Mobile phones Fingerprints recovered at the house are compared to the victims on AFIS. As the bodies showed stab wounds and was dissected, a search for any instrument capable of accomplishing this is carried out. Ruxtons Medical bag was collected and sent to the lab. Ruxten`s shoes was collected and soil samples compared to soil from the dump site. The size, make and sole patterns were recorded and compared with marks recovered at the dump site. The shoes were also examined for blood and other trace evidence. Ruxtons clothing was collected and examined for the presence of the victims blood and other trace evidence. The suspect and victims mobile phones are recovered. The phones software is interrogated for cell tower information which can track the movements of the phones imei numbers as they travel between cell towers. Call logs, text messages, photos and emails can be reviewed by investigators. Ruxtons Car The car is impounded, transported to a special examination centre and searched for evidence it transported a body. The vehicles tyres are compared against tyre-tracks recovered from the scene. Soil in the tyres is compared against soil from the dumpsite. The National Vehicle File The vehicles number-plate is checked against the National Vehicle File (NVF) for intelligence. This car was reported as having been involved in a hit and run in Kendal placing it near the crime scene around the estimated date of the murders. ANPR and Speed Enforcement Camera Systems The cars number-plate can also be checked against various databases such as:- Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems Gatso and Robot Speed enforcement cameras CCTV CCTV recordings are collected from Petrol stations, shops and Cafes along the entire route from Dalton Square to the crime scene in Scotland. Image annalists examined the recordings for sightings of Dr Ruxton or his car. Final Inventory A final inventory is conducted by an independent CSM and once the SIO is satisfied there is no more evidence to be recovered, the building as a scene is decommissioned. Post Scene Activity When all the scenes have been examined the incident management team develop and agree a submission policy. (As per G. Keeling and A. Scott Crime Scene Management workbook, P24) The SIO, CSM, SSO and the Exhibits Officer must meet once or twice daily and explore if there are any links between the scenes and the recovered evidence. The CSM will continue to meet and liaise with the SIO and on the progress of the evidence. (As per G. Keeling and A. Scott Crime Scene Management workbook, P24) Budgetary Control The SIO is responsible to keep control of expenditure during the investigation. The SIO will see that overtime is kept to a minimum and only staff working their normal shift are used. As external agencies charge for their services the SIO in consultation with the CSM prioritise evidence to be processed. As intelligence from the lab emerges evidence will move up or down in priority. Submission for finance will consider the following:- Evidence which will prove/disprove a suspects involvement Does the evidence corroborate the suspects, witnesses or victims version of events Will the examination of this evidence further the investigation If these criteria are fulfilled the CSM will authorise its examination. (As per G. Keeling and A. Scott Crime Scene Management workbook, P25) Statements of evidence Every person involved in the investigation will be required to provide a statement. Police and experts notebooks are obtained. These documents will be received, read, catalogued and exhibit numbers assigned. Copies of all documents and reports will be compiled into the book of evidence and submitted in the court file. Experts in court and the trial If the case goes to trial then experts will be required to present their findings on the evidence to the Judge and jury. The defence has the right to cross examine any witness and have any evidence independently examined. On completion of the evidence, the prosecution and defence barristers give their closing statements. The judge will then charge and send the jury to deliberate. The jury can at any stage request clarification on any piece of evidence. When deliberations have finished, the jury return a verdict. Conclusion The murder scene is, without a doubt, the most important crime scene an officer will be called to attend. Because of the nature of the crime death by violence or unnatural causes, the answer to what happened can only be determined after careful and intelligent examination of the crime scene. (Gerberth,.J. Practical Homicide investigation tactics, Procedures and forensics) This essay is based on the Jigsaw murders of 1936 where Dr. Ruxton was found guilty on both accounts of murdering his wife Isabella and their house maid Mary Rogerson. He was sentenced to death.

Food, Values and Identity in the Middle Ages Essay

Food is one of the basic essentials for humans to live. The food we eat gives us the sustenance for our daily duties. Even during the ancient times, humans had a wide variety of foodstuffs to choose from with meat and plant food as the two general categories (Adamson, 2004). However, even if there are same food resources all around the world, what people eat vary from one culture to another, thus there were variations on how they cook different foods and how they eat. As time progressed, simple meals became elaborate with the continuous addition of different ingredients to make it more palatable to the taste of many. Diets of people evolve, depending on their needs, status, time periods and of course, the availability of the food itself. Through food, some people are able to show their values or principles that they believe in. For example, Muslims do not eat pork because the pig is considered as a dirty animal in their religion. The food people consume is sometimes used to characterize them (Scholliers, 2001), not only as individuals but as part of a group. All over the world, food portrayed a great role in shaping humans, their values, identity and the society and period they live in. One notable period in history is the Middle Ages. It was the time when there were many political, social, economic and social changes and the period which also led to the transformation of many European states (MSN Encarta, 1993-2008). What role did food play in the medieval ages? What was its relationship between values and identity in the period of the Middle Ages? It is interesting to note how food contributed to the culture of the people during these times of immense changes in the society and way of living of people. Eating in the Middle Ages was distinguished for the different social classes of people that lived during that time. For peasants and those who lived in poverty, their diet consisted mainly of vegetables and cereals. It was said by Mennell (1985) that descriptions of how the poor ate can be seen from the some of Chaucer’s and Langland’s writing. Serfs were provided by their lords’ limited variety and amount of foodstuffs, mainly consisting of bread, a morsel of cheese, ale or cider and dish of either fish or meat. This fish and meat were usually eaten during special occasions but it was still a known fact that meat was a luxury to the poor (Ferreires, 2006). It was also said that the poor was also associated to eating dairy products (Mennell, 1985) while the rich people had a disregard for them. Meat was always associated with the rich and it was them who always had a plentiful supply. Selling of meat was complicated during the time of the Middle Ages. There were many rules regarding butchering and the sale of meat in Europe (Ferreires, 2006). These rules were created for health reasons and so as to create a good quality of products for the buyers. These rules were also specific; one of them is that any flesh or meat dying of other means aside from butchering must be burned. Slaughtering of an animal also had strict standards and the market was strictly supervised as well by the lords of the city. In this aspect, meat was not only used as part of a recipe or dish but also for political purposes because charters created for the sale of meat were watched over closely by the lords of the city (Ferreires, 2006). There were different kinds of butcher shops found around the city, the town butcher shop and the common butcher shop. These two kinds of shops were different because they sell different qualities of meats (Ferreires, 2006). These meats were mostly for the consumption of the rich because the town butcher shops sold high quality meats while the common butcher shop sold, though not low quality, meat sold there was considered as second rate Ferreires, 2006). Poor people had another option where they can buy meat and this was a free market where decaying meat could be bought. Although there were strict rules for selling of meat, selling rotting meat was not prohibited as long as they sell it outside the town so people can make a distinction on where they can buy fresh meat and where to but the decaying ones. Ferreires (2006, p. 48) noted that for those who live in the country though, it was not a problem for them to find food since they also produce their own and sometimes tended animals. On the other hand, those who lived in the city, though could also produce their own food, remained as consumers since most of the markets could be found in the city. Even if there was a social distribution of food among the people during the Middle Ages, how food was cooked was very simple for both rich and the poor. Slow boiling (Mennell, 1985) was the major method in which food was cooked during the Middle Ages primarily because the meals prepared during this time were dominated by soup. In most cases, the soup prepared for the meal contained meat, together with onions, cabbages and beans. For the poor, sometimes food was simply cooked in boiling water or milk. Little is known about the recipes that people cooked during the Middle Ages. However, cooking manuscripts were also created during these times (Mennell, 1985). Much of these manuscripts are similar to what we would call as recipe books or cookbooks. But these cooking manuscripts were generally created for the upper class because you will find recipes in these manuscripts as the ones prepared by cooks at the dinner tables of the rich and nobility. Most of the recipes in medieval cuisine particularly focused on the ingredients and the combination of flavors that is put into a dish. Unfortunately, the first recorded recipes were vague, written with lack of precision on how it was cooked, how much of an ingredient was needed and what utensils were used. Earliest recipes in the Middle Ages were seen simply as a list of ingredients. Most writers of the culinary manuscripts were anonymous and it was difficult to trace more information about the recipes. But with the emergence of the master-chefs, cooks who wrote recipes from personal experience, specifying details of the dish to be cooked, written recipes evolved. This evolution of recipes may have also been attributed to the evolving culinary techniques, practices and strategies of the cooks that time. Other factors, such as introduction of a new ingredient, new found use of a utensil contributed to the evolution or improvement of medieval recipes (Adamson, 1995). Food preparation became more elaborate. Together with the evolution of the recipes, more and more cooks and chefs came out from their anonymity and were recognized. They were then appropriately recognized for their collection of recipes. We can say that food was able to give identity to the chefs such as those who provided the people with new recipes in medieval cooking manuscripts. According to Mennell (1985, p. 49), there were four best known cookery manuscripts from late medieval Northern Italy which had many points in common with each other and probably has one source. Food would then be used to signify wealth and rank in the medieval cuisine. Food prepared for the rich may not necessarily taste delectable but they should certainly look appetizing. There were also certain foodstuffs that gave the rich their identity to the rich because they are the only ones who can easily access it, such as meat which was mentioned earlier. The saying â€Å"You are what you eat,† can be taken literally because whatever food that goes into our body contributes to how our bodies are made of. Whatever food an individual eats gives them the physical identity. Identity is the set of characteristics by which an individual possesses, as he or she is recognizable as a member of a certain group. All human beings have identities, so we will have something to identify with, to give us a sense of belongingness. Without people realizing it, the food we eat was a huge factor in determining our identity. For example, we usually identify countries with the foods that can commonly be found in them (not necessarily crops). We also sometimes identify certain groups of people to the food they eat. In the Middle Ages, we already mentioned that the evolution of the recipe writing was able to give identity to the chefs of that time. They became more respected because they did not just conform to old traditional recipes but they created their own styles in making dishes. The social classes during the Middle Ages were also given identities by the food they eat. The rich and nobility for example was usually identified with meat and many other variety of food that was accessible to them. While for the commoner, it was vegetables and dairy that was clearly identified with them (Mennell 1985). More food was of course accessible to the rich because they had more money to buy a wider variety of foodstuffs than the commoner. Their diet consisted mainly of fresh bread, cheese, meat and wine. Relationship between identity and food in the Middle Ages could also be seen in the prescribed diets of the time. Foods that were coarse, heavy and inexpensive were prescribed to eat by those workers who had heavy physical work. They were supposed to become more accustomed to these kinds of foods because these foods would be able to sustain the energy they consume up in their work. Other foods which may not be acceptable and considered unpleasant to eat such as nerves, tendons, and innards were included in the list of prescribed foods for the laborer. These laborers then would be given the identity that they have tough stomachs because of the many repulsive foods that they can eat (Ferreires, 2006). On the other hand, the rich or those with inactive lifestyles such as the scholar were prescribed to eat lighter foods such as white bread, white wine and the white meat of the chicken because this foods suits best the brain activity (Ferreires, 2006). They were advised as well to lessen their physical activity, anything that may become hindrance to their brain activity. In turn, they would be more identified with gentler stomachs, one that cannot or should not digest or intake foods eaten by the laborers because they do not consume too much energy as workers do. Although food has a great role in the identity formation during the Middle Ages, it should not be deduced that food is a major factor in identity formation because there are still many factors such as in social, economic and political aspects that should be considered when looking at people’s identities. Another role that food may have a relationship with is values in the Middle Ages. The relationship between food and values goes a long way back to ancient history. Values were held by individuals as something that they believe in firmly. The relationship between food and values in the Middle Ages may be closely linked to religion. Early accounts of prescribed diets can be found in the Bible. Animal flesh was primarily used as sacrificial offering to God Adam and Eve were not allowed to eat meat and according to Adamson (2004), it was only after Noah and those who followed after him were the ones allowed to eat meat. It was under Moses that the dietary rules were changed and there were certain animals that cannot be eaten because they were unclean and consuming blood was also prohibited. People followed these rules strictly as it is written in the Bible. The holy meal of the body and blood of Christ were represented by the wine and bread which people must take to receive the Holy Spirit. Since the holy meal was represented at the body and blood of Christ, according to the religious teachings of the Middle Ages, people were eating the God who suffered and died on the cross. Therefore the act of eating the holy meal was like an act of suffering with God as well (Adamson, 2004). Another value important to people in the Middle Ages was the voluntary act of withholding food or fasting. It was also an act of suffering, because you are denying a basic need of your body. By withholding food, you are somehow telling the gods that you are willing to do anything for them to grant whatever wishes or prayers you have. Taking part in communal fasting also gives the feeling of belongingness of a person. People were striving for purity during this time and fasting was one ay of cleansing the body. Connections were made between gluttony (eating too much) and lechery (excessive indulgence in sexual activities) so many people took part in fasting to purify themselves. However, fasting was not an act of eating nothing at all but eating simple foods such as bread, salt and water only. Fasting was primarily done not to starve people who take part in it but to control themselves in indulging in too much food, thus controlling the desires of their body and to prepare themselves for receiving the divine truth (Adamson, 2004). Fasting was not only taken seriously by holy people such as monks but a number of girls who loved in the Middle Ages which became the cause of their deaths. This was termed â€Å"holy anorexia† according to Adamson (2004, p. 195) because these girls starved themselves to death and sometimes imposed immense pain to their bodies. Most of these girls were not really poor but wanted to be in control of their lives, seeing to it that at that time, the only options for females were either to marry or enter the convent. By denying themselves food, they were somehow able to gain control of their lives and not simply being a slave to the tradition. Lastly, the link of food and values to religion are laws about clean and unclean foods and food preparation during religious rituals and festivals. According to Adamson (2004, p. 199) both Jews and Christians in medieval Europe observed the same Jewish festivals where food played an important role. There were certain foods that cannot be eaten during these festivals such as bitter and black foods. One of the rules Jews have is that animals should be slaughtered in such a way that all the blood must be drained out because it is prohibited for them to consume blood. Food in the Middle Ages was used to associate certain groups of people and individuals because the foods they ate were â€Å"identified† with them, such as the rich and meat and vegetables for the poor. These foods were the most accessible and available to them thus giving them the identity like, if you usually eat meat, you are considered as a rich person. However, it might be dangerous to conclude that food determines the identity of an individual or a group because there are still a lot of factors to be considered when determining one’s identity. The relationship between food and values is closely linked to religion because there were particular foods that were considered as â€Å"clean and unclean† by different religions. Values of the people are affected by the food they ate because they wanted to follow the set of laws in their religion. They show their beliefs through avoiding the foods considered unclean and eating only the clean. They also show these by following certain rules that some foods cannot be eaten on certain days. Lastly, food was also used as a powerful tool to show one’s value as some of the women in the Middle Ages were able to use food to gain control in their lives. Food truly portrayed a great role in the Middle Ages and how it came to shape the values and identity of how people lived during those times. Food was also able to contribute to the rich culture that medieval Europe had. Its contribution to identity and values in the Middle Ages can prove that eating is not simply a biological way of providing energy for individuals to keep up with daily life. References Adamson, M. W. (1995). Food in the Middle Ages: A Book of Essays. New York: Garland Publishing Adamson, M. W. (2004). Food in Medieval Times. Connecticut: Greenwood Press. Bynum, C. (1987). Holy Feast and Holy Famine. Berkley. Carlin M. and Rosenthal J. (Eds. ). (1998). Food and Eating in Medieval Europe. London. Ferreires, M. (2006). Sacred cow Mad Cow A History of food Fears. New York. Columbia University Press. Mennell, S. (1985). All Manners of Food: Eating and Taste in England and France from the Middle Ages to Present. Oxford. MSN Encarta. (1993-2008). The Middle Ages. Retrieved May 6, 2008 from http://encarta. msn. com/encyclopedia_761578474/Middle_Ages. html Scholliers, P. (2001). Food, Drink and Identity: Cooking, Eating and Drinking in Europe since the Middle Ages. Oxford: Berg Woolgar, C. et al. (2006). Food in Medieval England: diet and Nutrition. Oxford.

Human Trafficking in Europe

The Sex Trade of Eastern Europe â€Å"VELESTA, Macedonia – Olga winced as she drew back the bandage on her right breast, revealing an infected puncture wound that hadn’t healed since a man bit her in a fit of sexual rage. But the wound, for which the 19-year-old Moldovan lacked even basic medicine, is only a small part of Olga’s daily agony. For more than a year she has been held as a sex slave in this town in western Macedonia, where human trafficking flourishes and young girls are forced to endure the sexual whims of thousands of men. † This story, unfortunately, is reality to roughly 200,000 women and children from Eastern Europe.Sex trafficking simultaneously exploits both the best and the worst aspects of globalization- the champions of globalization flaunt the growing ease of conducting business across national borders. It is due to sophisticated communication tools and relaxed banking laws that it is now possible to exchange assets internationally w ith ease. Virtual enterprises can operate everywhere and nowhere, making themselves known only when and where they choose. â€Å"Generating around 32 billion dollars annually, human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal activity of today. While the governments of the troubled countries as well as the European Union make laws and regulations, the perpetrators become smarter; little progress gets made in solving this problem. At the center of human trafficking is the sex trade. The growing sex trade, which is more than visible in most of Europe, plays on the notion of growth in the â€Å"world sex-market†. This market is made possible by the globalization of consumer capitalism in which commercial sex plays a big role. There are three sides to the issue: the victims, the perpetrators, and the governments, law makers, and groups who are trying to stop the epidemic.Together, over time, these people have built a crime market that is becoming harder to break. Women are being smuggled under the false pretense of a better life. Perpetrators have made a powerful market which works under transnational groups who have become masters at instilling fear in young women. And countries’ governments have made regulations and laws that often hurt the victims, are not successful, or they are working in conjunction with the traffickers. The problem to be solved does not lie in just one group, but it is due to the actions of all three.It is important to see the dynamics of each group in order to understand just how powerful the sex trade is in Eastern Europe. The Woman’s Role Since the fall of the Berlin Wall and end of the Cold War, international borders are easier to cross than at any other time in world history. Also, there has been an increase in worldwide poverty, which has left women to seek the means of economic survival for themselves and their families. It is out of this dilemma that a sense of desperation comes that makes Eastern European wome n susceptible to the trickery of traffickers.This has caused such an affect that women and underage girls now constitute 90 percent of Eastern and South Eastern European people trafficked into the western parts of the continent. And even though women are knowingly aware of the dangers and prominence of sex trafficking, they continue to be swayed by lies of better lives and economic success the traffickers use. This refusal to acknowledge and actively weigh the dangers of too- good- to- be- true offers from the West is the victims’ greatest contribution to the problem of sex trafficking.Case studies on girls from the 1990’s and at the present time show women’s reasoning for coming over and falling victim to trafficking include economic, cultural and social-psychological â€Å"push† factors. These push factors tend to be coming from a country of low employment and pay rates, frustration at the suppression of women in their countries (often Eastern European women read Western literature which shows women in power, thriving), and also they face the difficulties of obtaining a visa. The prime age for women to be trafficked is 18-25 years old.However, 15-30 percent of girls trafficked are under aged. An interesting place where European victims differ from Asian and African victims is in their education level. Usually, European victims have secondary education. A fair amount even have post-secondary education. These facts and statistics show that it is naivety and desperation that is putting these girls in danger, not knowledge. Studies even show that women are â€Å"generally aware† of the mishaps occurring to their compatriots and how they are occurring.One of the reasons women are still falling victim to traffickers despite their awareness is due to many references are coming from acquaintances. These references ease the fear of the women so they become more vulnerable. And although references are being traveled by word of mouth, the source of them is usually the local newspaper. In the 1990’s, Eastern European newspapers advertised jobs as babysitters, waitresses, and bar girls in the west and also showed western men looking for â€Å"nice Eastern European women† for wives and mothers. Ten years later, the Russian and Ukrainian media largely took over the task.Thus, a typical ad in the Kielce daily reads: ‘Young women needed in Berlin [Helsinki, Vienna, Milan] as maids and babysitters in middle-class homes. Room and board, weekly wage (net) 150-200 Euro, one day off, health insurance provided. Assistance in obtaining travel documents and transportation. â€Å" Other widespread methods used to coerce women into the system are the â€Å"rosy boy† method where a foreign man promises marriage or a â€Å"rosy† future and arranges her travel abroad and the usage of elderly women whose job is to offer young girls jobs in Western Europe.Blackmail is used against the women in most cases to make them obey their owners. Once the girls are under the care and supervision of their transit leader, there is very little they can do to escape. After a woman is transited, the outcome is usually the same. The perpetrators tell them that they must pay back their travel expenses. These debts can range from 700 and 4,000 American dollars. They are then transferred to a high surveillance boarding house where they are physically and emotionally abused into prostitution.Women often end up working in brothels, night clubs, borderlines serving truck drivers or other passer bys, and pornographic films. â€Å"Managers† transfer them from place to place to not get caught. When a woman becomes too old to be sold or a manager is done with them, they are often thrown on to the streets with no paperwork, money, or guidance. Trafficked women live in fear. Often, they are beaten, abused, and raped on a daily basis. Afraid of their owners, they do not ask questions as to where th ey are or if they will be released.The victims often depend upon their clients for information and help. And although the predicament of these girls is beyond inhumane, it is important to remember that these girls are often times being foolish when they put a great amount of trust in strangers. Also, it is necessary to understand the sex trafficking system of operation and where the women fall in it. For like in any problem, if you do not understand the entire premise, you will not be able to solve it. The Perpetrators Organized crime is largely responsible for the spread of international human trafficking.Sex trafficking – along with its correlative elements, kidnapping, rape, prostitution and physical abuse – is illegal in nearly every country in the world. However, widespread corruption and greed make it possible for sex trafficking to quickly and easily proliferate. The operation of the sex trafficking business-from location and recruitment of candidates in their h ome countries to transportation across borders to their exploitation in the place of destination- requires an efficient transnational organization. Within Eastern Europe, traffickers (often mafia involved) create organizations that run similarly to small businesses.There are usually five to fifteen people per each international circuit. These â€Å"businesses† are usually made up of men who each hold a different position within the system. Typically, there is a boss in each origin and destination country. They have managers and recruiters of special travel agencies in every origin, assistants for security, transport, contacts (bribery) with authorities, and helpers along transit points during transport from the country of origin to country of destination, collect money, and there are managers of the women’s employment.These circuits take place all over Europe and through the years the transits have been mapped out and made known to the public. Traffickers as well as go vernment officials have divided the transits in to three main categories: long distance, mid to long distances, and short trajectory. Long distances initiate typically in Central Asia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. They go through Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania and end in Poland, Slovakia, or Hungary where they stay or go to Germany, Austria or Sweden.Mid to long distance transits begin in Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania in East Eastern Europe and Albania, Moldova, Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia in South Eastern Europe. They go through Slovenia, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic to Western Europe, Israel, Arab Republic and North America. The shortest transit is solely moving Eastern European women to West Europe. This is the most common and this transit has been so successful that over 90 percent of prostitutes in Western Europe are Eastern European. Smuggling women has become an enormously profitable business for these men.For example, if a girl around 17 years old is smuggled from Albania, o nce she reaches Italy she is worth around 10,000 dollars. Once she is sold, she could make upwards of 600 American dollars per night for her owner. In the UK, a woman can sell for up to 14, 000 dollars. European traffickers work on the economic principle of supply and demand. The demand comes from all over the world and since in many countries prostitution is legal, buyers have little knowledge about whether their bought partner is there willingly or is acting as a slave.Clearly, the perpetrators are the ones doing the most harm in this three-sided relationship. What the Enforcers are Doing Since the 1990’s there has been a considerable increase in the attention given to sex trafficking in Europe. The European Union, individual governments as well as Non Government Organizations have been working to raise awareness, educate women and arrest traffickers. Unfortunately, their attempts are not as efficient as they should be. It seems like out of the three major groups aiming to stop sex trafficking, the individualized governments are having the most unsuccessful time.Two major problems individual governments have is corruption and getting around illegal immigrant laws when a trafficked woman is saved. It is important to remember that almost all women who are trafficked are illegal immigrants. Countries are then forced to deal with that issue once a woman is rescued. Often times they are deported. When it comes to law enforcement too often in countries like Moldova and Russia, the traffickers are part of the mafia. Because of this, they often have ties with the government or the government works closely with them.Although the police forces in European countries have been making better strides in catching traffickers, there are also many stories of policemen who are traffickers themselves. â€Å"And even if the traffickers are caught, often times they can pay off the judges, the politicians and the police. In the first three months of 2008 more than 50 Alba nian police officers were thrown off the force for taking bribes from the mafia. † Over the last decade both the EU and the COE have devoted considerable attention to trafficking women and the documentation on this issue is xtensive. All of the recent publications stress the gross violations of human rights that trafficking involves, noting that trafficking women is a low risk, high reward, and that it is the responsibility of all states to increase the risks and penalties( COE, 1994; 1996; 1997; 1998; European Commission, 1996, 1998; European Parliament, 1993; 1996; UN, 1998). Specific UN initiatives include the General Assembly’s 1997 Resolution of the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and the Palermo Protocol which entered into law in 2003.The UN General Assembly’s 1997 Resolution of the Elimination of Violence Against Women specified a number of crime prevention principles in the form of model strategies and Practical Measures to be adopted by member cou ntries. The UN General Assembly Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (or the Palermo Protocol- entered into law in 2003) is made up of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Lane, Air, and Sea. Although the UN is taking initiative, the high numbers of trafficked women prove the legislation ineffective.This is often blamed due to the nature of anti trafficking efforts which Dr Rossanka Venelinova, executive director of the Nadja Center in Sofia describes as, â€Å"a jungle†¦ There is no overall strategy, only a large number of programs that are not properly coordinated. That means that there is no sustainability. † Another fact working against the EU is that only a fraction of the countries have ratified the anti-trafficking conventions and the conventions are not properly monitored or verified properly. Now, due to the pressure on international o rganizations and NGOs, anti-trafficking strategies take more of a human rights approach.Shelters, psychological and medical counseling services, the re-integration of women in their home communities, the granting of temporary residency permits in countries of destination and awareness campaigns help trafficked victims and prevent others from becoming victims. While the NGO’s are successful they are constantly fighting for funding and publicity. One of their most beneficial approaches is through education for young girls in school. It seems that â€Å"the enforcers† are at fault due to a lack of cooperation.If the government, UN, and NGO’s gained forces (and funding), the task of eliminating trafficking wouldn’t seem as impossible. However, the potential victims must also take responsibility for this crime by not submitting themselves to dangerous behavior. Is There an End? This essay addresses upon the three major players in the sex trafficking industry i n Europe. It also shows the flaws in the forces combating the problem. Sex trafficking will only end once there is a solidified, enforced plan of action which uses not only the government, but the non government groups as well.One of the most important things that must continue is the prevention education given to young girls. If they are aware of the dangers and know what to look for they are less susceptible to being abducted and held captive. It is possible for sex trafficking to be greatly diminished, but new strategies must be adopted first.

My Hero’s Journey - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1623 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/02/20 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: My Hero Essay Did you like this example? The Ordinary World It was an ordinary Saturday. September 12, 2015 was when it all began. It was just another ordinary peach days in Brigham City, Utah. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "My Hero’s Journey" essay for you Create order I would be in the peach days parade that morning for the B.E. United float. The time of the parade was coming closer and closer. Then they told us that it was our turn to go in the parade. We were so excited. We were standing on a trailer being pulled by a red pickup truck. We were hoping to throw candy off the float but we weren’t allowed to throw it from the float. It was a great parade and I had a ton of fun with my friends. We went and visited the rest of the booths with my friends and family and then we took a quick break at home. We then went back to peach days and we went to al the free carnival games that are put on by local companies. At that time it was about 3:30 and then I remembered that I had a soccer game at 6:30. I thought it would just be like a regular soccer game, but that would not be the case. The Call to Adventure I warmed up like it was a regular soccer game and I was actually feeling pretty good about it. Then, about 20 minutes into the game we were still tied 0-0 and I jumped to clear the ball out of the penalty box and my own teammate slid under me and I did a front flip and landed awkwardly on to my left arm. At that moment all time stopped in my perspective and I was really confused about what just happened. Me and 6 other kids heard a snap and then I started screaming bloody murder. It was the greatest pain I have ever felt in my life. Then I looked down at my arm and saw the grossest thing. My humerus bone had split into two parts and they were sticking against the opposite sides of my arm. Then I started screaming harder. Refusal of the Call The referee then looked at me gave me a dirty look and was about to turn around and keep going, and then he saw my arm. He blew his whistle to stop the game and motioned the coach and my dad onto the field. My coach and my dad were debating if it was a dislocated shoulder and if they should move me off the field or not. I was yelling â€Å"No don’t move me off the field it hurts too bad!† They then came to a solution that they should probably just keep me on the field and call emergency services. That could have been the longest 10 minutes in my life ever. The soccer field that I was playing at was Perry Centennial Soccer Field. They first went to Perry Park and called my dad and said â€Å"We are here at Perry Park and we don’t see you here.† He then corrected them and said â€Å"We are at Perry Centennial Soccer Field.† After that they came to Perry Centennial and then attended to my medical needs. They gave me a an I.V. drip with some numbing medicine in it. They flipped me over onto an orange board and it felt like someone had just broken one of the pieces of my arm into even more pieces. Then everything became a blur. In my brain it felt like they loaded me onto an ambulance and took me to the hospital in like one minute. In reality it was like 15 minutes. Then we had to wait in the waiting room for 15 more minutes to wait for an available emergency room spot. That felt like 5 minutes and then they put me on to the bed. After that the hospital staff immediately took me to the radiology center to take x-rays. They determined that I had broken my left humerus bone. The Brigham City Hospital did not do humerus bone casts so they were going to send me down to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. My dad then contacted one of his friends from high school. His dad was an orthopedic surgeon. He said that we would not have to go to Primary Children’s because he could fix it. The only downside was that I would have to wait until Monday to get in to see him. So, they wrapped it up the best they could with gauze and a sling and sent me on my way with some strong pain medicines. I wondered how I would be able to complete simple everyday tasks when I had this giant hassle that I had to deal with. I struggled to get into my parent’s minivan right after I left the hospital. It even hurt to get into our super comfy reclining chair that I had. At night time I just sat there and cried because it hurt so bad. I didn’t even know if I would be able to fall asleep that night. Then the next day the visits started to happen from all of my friends and family. That was hands-down the most sugar I had ever received within a 2 week period. All the people that I knew from my grandparents to my soccer teammates visited me and gave me goodies. Meeting with the Mentor Monday came, when it was time to go to school for everybody else. I was going to see what was wrong with my arm and if it could even be fixed. At that point my doctor was debating on whether we should try a cast to fix it, or do surgery and put metal plates around the broken bone to make it stronger so it would never happen again. But he decided that he would be able to fix it with an extra heavy cast to bring the bone back into place. I was really angry at him for making me an extra heavy cast but it did end up fixing it. After he put on the cast I threw up because of all the extra strong pain medicines like percocet and other medications. Tests, Allies, Enemies My parents and I walked out of the building. Then with a new confidence about them my dad left for work and my mom took me home. Trying to get around the house without my dad was so hard. I could barely get out of my recliner. They tried to make it better for me by moving the T.V. so I wouldn’t be bored all day. But then there was school. The stress of school was making my life even harder. This wasn’t your average break of the forearm or wrist. I broke my humerus bone, which is the bone that is connected to your shoulder. It wasn’t a fracture or anything, it was a total and complete break. It broke so bad because I had a cyst in my bone. Nobody really knows a lot about cysts because they are foreign to the human world. They don’t know how they form, they don’t know how you get them, they don’t know if it is genetic or not either. They wanted to test me and see if there was any common things between me and other people that had cysts as well. My parents didn’t ever follow up with the genetic doctors because they didn’t want to pay for anything that wouldn’t benefit us. For the next two weeks I struggled to move around the house. Then my doctor told me that I would be able to go to school the next Monday. I wondered if I would even be able to go. I struggled to stand for longer than five minutes at a time because of how heavy the cast was. Without my friends, me going to school would have been impossible. They helped me get to my classes and helped me walk through the halls without anybody bumping my arm. The intermediate school never seemed so intimidating before. The narrow hallways, the crowding of all the people, the demanding teachers. The list goes on and on. My broken arm took me out of a lot of activities that I loved to do. It took me out of soccer, basketball, and other activities that I loved to do. I really wanted to do all of those fun things but my body was just physically not able to. The Reward (Seizing The Sword) Then, exactly a week from when I broke my arm, all of my soccer teammates and friends came over to my house for a huge get together. There was like 40 people in my backyard all there for me. It was so much fun and I got a ton of way cool stuff that I still have. They signed two posters saying get well and a soccer ball with all their signatures. They also gave me two giant bags of candy that added to my massive collection of sugar. This really helped me get through this tough part in my life. Most of them also signed my cast so I had over fifty signatures on my cast. After that I was able to go to school everyday and make it through having my giant cast. After four weeks of the big cast, they cut it down to a small cast that was just over my humerus bone. Then it became easier and easier everyday to go to school. Even to this day I am still so thankful for all of my friends and soccer teammates that came to my house that Saturday in September 2015.